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VICTORIAN INTERIORS

Victorian interior design is an approach to interior design inspired by the Victorian Era, a famous period in British history which lasted from 1837 to 1901. The Victorian Era marked huge shifts in British society, and many of these shifts were reflected in interior design. Many people view this era as a very romantic period in history, and they have drawn heavily on the inspirations of the Victorian age when decorating homes, ranging from real Victorian homes maintained in an authentic period style to modern homes with Victorianinfluenced interior design. One of the key developments of the Victorian Era was the Industrial Age, and the Industrial Age had a profound impact on interior design. Before the advent of mass production everything used to decorate a home was made by hand, and only the truly wealthy could afford opulent interior design schemes. With the advent of mechanization, the middle classes could afford objects traditionally associated with the rich, and authentic Victorian interior design is dense, lavish, and ornate; it can be almost overwhelming for people who are accustomed to more spare modern aesthetics.

Color Color schemes varied depending upon the location of the home. Lighter colors tended to be avoided in town and city dwellings due to pollution. Another factor in color choice was often determined by the availability of pigments. In country areas, interior decorations were often carried out by traveling craftsmen who carried limited supplies. Paint had to be mixed on site with whatever locally available ingredients could befound. For example, the blue-green colorwash used on wooden paneled walls in country areas was derived from the earth pigment terra verde, mixed with egg whites and buttermilk.

Wallpaper In the early and mid-Victorian period elaborate scrolled floral patterns were favored and primary backgrounds of red, blue and green overprinted with shades of cream and tan were common. Later in the 19th century Gothic inspired trellises painted in rich earth tones with stylized leaf and floral work were frequently used in all rooms of the house. The most authoritative and influential designer of wallpaper and fabrics during this time was William Morris, architect, designer and founder of the Arts and Crafts movement. Morriss patterns were inspired by Medieval and Gothic tapestries. He was known as a genius for mixing strong, pure colors to harmonious effect and giving a flat pattern a narrative quality which was unsurpassed. Embossed paper were used on ceilings and frizes in order to counterbalance intricately patterned and colored papers.

Furniture Furniture of the Victorian era was large in scale and ornamentation was seen in carved scrolls, leaves flowers and grapes. Woods were oak, mahogany, rosewood and black walnut. Walls Walls in Victorian homes were made of plaster, and were typically covered with wallpaper. Wallpaper designs of the day featured large patterns of flowers, birds or feathers. Floors Floors in Victorian homes were made of hardwood and were covered with Oriental rugs or large pattern area rugs. Textiles Fabrics were typically velvet, brocades, damask, velour and mohair. Pillows and upholstered furniture were often trimmed with braid and tassels. Colors Colors ranged from rich jewel tones to dark somber colors, including deep reds, blues, browns, greens and black. Accents Victorian rooms usually contained potted ferns or palms, ornate silver photograh frames and decorative items made of ivory, tortoiseshell or glass.

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